Hello this is my SnG strategy that works for almost any 2 table, 18 man tourney
It works better for the bigger buyins though.
Ok lets start with the starting hands that you should play
at times this does change deeper into the tourney whcich i will explain later
starting hands are - AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 1010, 99, 88, 77, 66, 55, 44, AK, AQ, AJ, A10, and sometimes A9, KQ, KJ, K10, and sometimes K9, QJ, SOMETIMES Q10 AND Q9. These are early in the tourney starting hands.
Ok now for 2 or 3 seats out of the money starting hands
any pocket pair, AK to the A10, KQ to the K10, QJ, Q10, Q9, J10, J9
ok and for when u make it into the money these are the starting hands
any Pocket pair AK to the A10, KQ, KJ, QJ, J10 Tighter is better
Now on to the betting part of this strategy
early in the tourney you need to be Tight and Agressive - Agressive meaning bet with large amounts
around 2 or 3 seats out of the money - Tight and not as Agressive - the reason for not being as Agressive is because you don't need to be agressive at this point in the tourney. Reason for that is because the players be either tightening up or getting looser because of the posiytion in the tourney. The small stacks will be getting very tight and big stacks will most likely loosen up. So being not as agreesive you will be showing that you are possible weak on some hands and the small stacks and big stacks will try to push you off of your hands.
In the money betting - Tight and Agressive - you will need to go back to the style of Agression you had in the start of the game. Meaning betting large amounts.
( Bluffing ) - I can't really tell you when to bluff you just have to choose the right time to do it and you have to make sure you know the player you are trying to Bluff. Bluffing early in the tourney usually results in getting called by a premuim hand in which you will probably lose. If you choose to bluff then tyr it during the period of the game when you are 2 or 3 seats out of the money and bluff against the small stacks ( Reason for this is becasue they are being tight usually at this point in the tourney ).
Now for last 3 players - betting - Get looser with your betting but don't bet too much if it is goign to hurt your stack dramatically ( ex. you have 4k in chips and u will be betting around 1k or 1.5k unless you have determined you have the NUTS ).
Believe me when i say this strategy does work if you follow these simple rules. I have done very well with this same strategy. My usual winning is around 4 out of 6 tourneys ( by winning i mean getting In The Money ). If you use this strategy you will not always win but you will be getting in the money more often. Profit is all that matters in these tourneys.
This startegy works the best for $5 to $10 turbo 18 man SnG's
Well I hope this helps some of you that have trouble placing in the money in these types of tourneys
i will also be posting my 45 man SnG strategy on a later date ( which is very simial but different starting hands and some change up on the betting )
Gl to everyone and have fun
Hick
I posted this on another forum a while back ... and have had lots of thanks for posting it so it should work for you all also
I know the tourneys don't change from site to site but This strategy seems to work better on Poker Stars ... but never had a good chance at trying it on
Full Tilt or any other site
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10 comments
How can you be playing TIGHT at the start of the tourny with THAT range of hands?
Maybe I have been playing too tight all this time!
Great Googgly Mooggly, a real poker blog ! ....... I need to wake up, I just know I am dreaming !
....play on ...Tc.....
Hick the range of hands you spoke about for early is a little larger than my range but I can see how these hands will work for someone in a later position on the table.
Hey Hick,
Thanks for the blog. I can see how this strategy would work for you. I would only like to say that I have played this man in tourneys and more times than not he is in the money. And besides any strategy for some players, would be better than no strategy at all. Gl all!
Thanks for the advice.
John
Great if it's working for ya. I happen to disagree with a bunch of it though. Way too many 'starting hands' to begin with, and positional play and playing one's opponent is very important,.. especially 'position'!!!
As tourney gets close to bubble and you are on larger stack, then I don't think getting less aggressive is of any help at all. It is all relevant to the situation on one's table,.. generally speaking, the play will tighten up alot as it gets to bubble play, if you're on the bigstack you need to take advantage of this by attacking the blinds of the medium-stacked players, and keep the shortstack alive (keeping the shortie alive will allow you to steal more and more from the med. stacks). If on a mid-sized stack, try to avoid confrontation with the bigstack unless you are very strong and do so also with the shortstack. Don't raise into the shrtstk unless you're prepared to call him if he shoves allin back on you,.. shorties will be in desperate mode as they will be needing to double up.
As always,... play tight aggress. early going, loosen up a bit later on. Biggest mistake by sng players is playing far too many hands. It just isn't necessary.